Stephanie Lee Burnham, age 70 of Walnut Grove formerly of Fairbanks, Alaska passed away Friday, November 2, 2018 at Our House Hospice of Murray County in Slayton after a valiant battle with cancer. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 7 at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday. Interment will be in the North Hero Township Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Service – Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Stephanie Lee Burnham was born December 10, 1947 to Dale and Dorothy (Good) Burnham in Tracy, Minnesota. She graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1965 and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. Stephanie was a Special Education teacher in Redfield, SD and then moved to Hawaii. Later she moved to Seattle, WA and worked for Burlington Northern Railroad. After Seattle, she moved to Alaska to work for Alaska Railroad for 28 years until retirement. Stephanie then moved back to her family home in Walnut Grove. She would winter at her home in Mesa, AZ and spend summers in Walnut Grove. Stephanie was a member of the Walnut Grove Legion Auxiliary, the English Lutheran Church, a gardening club, and many card clubs. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, and winters in Arizona. Stephanie loved playing cards, fishing, and swimming. The treasures of her life were her pets.
Stephanie is survived by her dog Ester; cat Naughty Alice; sister Shari Burnham of Tucson, AZ; uncle Robert Schultz of Walnut Grove; numerous cousins; and other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, maternal grandparents Ernest & Emma Good and paternal grandparents Cleo Schultz and Dale Burnham Sr.
Stephanie was a wonderful person and a great co-worker she will be missed
RIP Stephanie and keep it on the rail
Stephanie was a wonderful person who lived everyday to the fullest. She loved her pets and the outdoors. She will be missed.
A very great loss. My thoughts and prayers are with her family & friends.
I miss you already my dear friend. I cannot believe you are gone. We had many wonderful adventures in the 40+ years we knew each other. With God’s speed……
-Evelyn Burdick
My Beautiful friend , you will be missed so very much.
I was sorry to hear of Stephanie’s passing. She put up a hard fought battle and was so positive the last time she was in. We really enjoyed her. She loved her pets and her Mustang. I’m sorry for your loss. She will be missed.
i apologize That I won’t be able to make her services on Wednesday. Sincerely, Dr. Richard W. Brown and staff at Balaton Dental Clinic.
RIP my dear friend Steph. Stephanie and I have been friends for many years – we kept in touch as we both moved a bit. Steph was part of my getting active in Special Education. We lost touch at one time and I was able to get in contact thru the Alaskan RR story and facebook. Steph was many things – she had a big heart, was generous, had a beautiful smile and a heartfelt laugh, was a serious card player, loved her cars and the trading process, she was a good daughter who looked after her father following her mothers death, she loved spending times with friends and family, she loved and cared for her many pets over her lifetime (think Ester and Naughty were her favorites), she kept track of stuff like no other. Yes that girl knew what she wanted and how she wanted it – and was never vague about instructions. She loved her Red Rosa Pizza, Fettuccine Alfredo, Mac n Cheese fresh grilled Salmon, DQ strawberry shakes and Coke. She was a mighty Twins fan and loved to attend games. She is the only friend I have who was nearly killed by a train car derailing and throwing her over a bank and also the only one I had that punched a Mama Bear in the nose after it surprised her and took a swipe at her. Steph loved Alaska and loved her many friends their. Steph was also a fisher woman that enjoyed fly fishing and went on a number of fly fishing trips. She has had a full and interesting life – with ups and downs. She hated her cancer diagnosis but kept up the fight until it wore her out and she chose to end the battle. I feel lucky to have known her, to have shared time with her and to have met many of her family and friends over the years of our friendship and during her last couple of years. I think of Steph often and while sad that she is gone most memories bring a smile. Being away from home and out of state means I cannot come to pay my final respects with those others close to her but my thoughts will be there. My sympathy and thoughts to her friends and family. God Bless.
A sweet, down-to-earth friend, Stephanie, you will be missed. Rest easy in your new heavenly home.
My heart is broken..,again, another dear friend, gone too soon. My sincere condolences to all. Miss you in AZ, beautiful lady. Godspeed, indeed. ?
I knew Stephanie for the last 4-5 years, not long. I never met a better animal lover: for both Sissy and Esther. I will miss all of your stories and spending time here at Mesa Spirit. Keep ‘Em entertained up there in Heaven, Stephanie. Love Ali and Mark
I was privileged to meet this extraordinary lady only during the two brief visits we shared at the Our House Hospice. I shared Scripture with her, and prayed with her. There is no doubt in my mind that she knows Jesus Christ as her Savior, and that we will meet again in Heaven. I also know that she exhibited that strength of spirit, to which many of you refer, while I was there. If she had felt like ordering me out of the room because she did not want to hear what I had to say, she would and could have done so. She did not. I know she is missed by her many friends, and family, and we extend our sincerest sympathy. Pastor Max D. Younce